The purpose of this phase 3B trial was to see how well a new trial drug (degarelix) works in terms of reducing the size of the prostate volume in prostate cancer patients who were scheduled to undergo subsequent radiotherapy for treatment of their prostate cancer. Prior to receiving radiotherapy, it is recommended that patients with intermediate to high risk prostate cancer are pre-treated with hormone therapy (so-called neoadjuvant therapy) which is known to reduce the size of the prostate and thereby decrease the required radiation field and enable a more safe and effective treatment. In this trial, participants were randomly selected (like flipping a coin) to receive either degarelix given alone or a standard hormone therapy (combination of goserelin and bicalutamide. The treatment was given for three months and the prostate size was measured by ultra sound at the beginning and at the end of the trial. The participants were required to come to the clinic for 5 or 6 visits during the three months.

Change From Baseline in Total International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) at Week 4, 8, and 12 [ Time Frame: After treatment of 4, 8, and 12 weeks compared to Baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

The IPSS is a tool commonly used to assess the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), and to monitor the progress of the disease once treatment has been initiated. The participant completes a questionnaire containing 7 questions regarding incomplete emptying, frequency, intermittency, urgency, weak stream, straining, and nocturia. Each question is assigned a score of 0-5. The total score is then classified according to the following scale: 0 to 7 = mildly symptomatic; 8 to 19 = moderately symptomatic; and 20 to 35 = severely symptomatic.

Change From Baseline in Serum Testosterone Levels During the Study [ Time Frame: After treatment of 4, 8, and 12 weeks compared to Baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Change From Baseline in Serum Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Levels During the Study [ Time Frame: After treatment of 4, 8, and 12 weeks compared to Baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Change From Baseline in Serum Oestradiol Levels During the Study [ Time Frame: After treatment of 4, 8, and 12 weeks compared to Baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Change From Baseline in Quality of Life (QoL) Related to Urinary Symptoms at Each Visit [ Time Frame: After treatment of 4, 8, and 12 weeks compared to Baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

The IPSS questionnaire included an additional single question to assess the participant's QoL in relation to his urinary symptoms. The question was: 'If you were to spend the rest of your life with your urinary condition the way it is now, how would you feel about that?' The possible answers to this question ranged from 'delighted' (a score of '0') to 'terrible' (a score of '6').

Number of Participants With Markedly Abnormal Values in Vital Signs and Body Weight [ Time Frame: Baseline to 12 weeks of treatment ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

This outcome measure included incidence of markedly abnormal changes in blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), pulse, and body weight. The table presents the number of participants with normal baseline and at least one post-baseline markedly abnormal value.

Number of Participants With Markedly Abnormal Values in Safety Laboratory Variables [ Time Frame: Baseline to 12 weeks of treatment ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

The figures present the number of participants who had abnormal (defined as above upper limit of normal range (ULN)) levels of safety laboratory variables. Only the laboratory variables that had at least one percentage of participants in either group with abnormal value are presented, more variables were included in the study.

The degarelix doses were administered into the abdominal wall every 28 days. A starting dose of 240 mg (40 mg/mL) degarelix was administered on Day 0 as two 3 mL subcutaneous (s.c.) injections. The second and third doses of 80 mg (20 mg/mL) degarelix were administered as single 4 mL s.c. injections on Days 28 and 56, respectively.

Drug: Degarelix

The degarelix doses were administered into the abdominal wall every 28 days. A starting dose of 240 mg (40 mg/mL) degarelix was administered on Day 0 as two 3 mL subcutaneous (s.c.) injections. The second and third doses of 80 mg (20 mg/mL) degarelix were administered as single 4 mL s.c. injections on Days 28 and 56, respectively.

Other Names:

FE200486

Firmagon

Active Comparator: Goserelin (3.6 mg) + bicalutamide (50 mg)

On Day 0, the participants began once-daily oral (p.o.) treatment with bicalutamide as anti-androgen flare protection. This treatment continued for 2 weeks after the first dose of goserelin (i.e. 17 days in total).

On Day 3, the first goserelin implant was inserted s.c. into the abdominal wall. The second and third doses of goserelin were administered on Days 31 and 59, respectively.

Drug: Goserelin

Goserelin implants (3.6 mg) were inserted s.c. into the abdominal wall every 28 days. The first dose was administered on Day 3. The second and third doses of goserelin were administered on Days 31 and 59, respectively.

Other Name: Zoladex

Drug: Bicalutamide

On Day 0, participants began once-daily per-oral (p.o.) treatment with bicalutamide (50 mg) as anti-androgen flare protection; this treatment continued for 14 days after the first dose of goserelin.

Other Name: Casodex

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and older

Genders Eligible for Study:

Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Patient has given written informed consent before any trial-related activity is performed.

Has a confirmed prostate cancer in which this type of treatment is needed.

Exclusion Criteria:

Previous treatment for prostate cancer

Previous trans-urethral resection of the prostate

Patients who are lymph node positive or have other metastatic disease

Use of urethral catheter

Current treatment with a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor or α-adrenoceptor antagonist.

Clinical disorders other than prostate cancer including but not limited to renal, haematological, gastrointestinal, endocrine, cardiac, neurological, psychiatric disease, alcohol or drug abuse or other conditionals as judged by the investigator.

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00833248